Foldable umbrella



' De@y 9.,"l 1924. y

J. v. HNANlcl-:K

FOLDABLE UMBRELLA Filed Feb. 25, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dec, 9, 1924.

J. V. HNANICEK FOLDABLE UMBRELLA Filed Feb. 23,V 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 9, 1924.

UNI-'RED :STATES JOI-IN V. HNANICEK, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

FOLDABLE UMBRELLA.

Application yfiled..February 23, 1923.

T ooZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN V. HNANICEK, a citizen of bzechoslovakia, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga `and Stateof Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in a Foldable Umbrella, ofwhich-the following is affull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to l:the accompanying drawings.

This Ainvention relates to improvements in .a collapsible umbrella, whichV improvements .are -directedto cheapening the construction, fand lto facilitate the opening and closing of theumbrella. -More particularly, the inveir tion is concerned with a locking device which may bereadily operated for holding the umbrella in open position.

The means for carrying out the above objects, `will be fully set forth in the following description which pertains to the vaccompanying drawings. -The essential features will be summarized in the claims.

Inthe drawings, Fig. 1 is a side yelevation of an umbrella in open position, embodying features of my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section showing the umbrella in closed position; Fig. v3 is perspective view showing the relation of the telescoping ribs and ythe associated stays; Fig. 4 is a bottom view of the bracket or slide associated with the telescoping ribs; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 in Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is an elevation partly in section of a portion of the umbrella showing the relation of the runner kto the telescoping stad; Fig. 7 is a section onthe line 7-7 in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a view showing the umbrella in closed position; Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section showing the latch members -in open position; and Fig. 1() isa similarview on yanenlarged scale ofthe locking device ,shown in -unlocking position.

.My invention embodies the usual sta-ff, ribs', .cover-ing,A and supporti-ng stays. The sta-fl', f comprises ,va plurality of .telescoping tubes 'or :sections as at 10,. 11, 12 and 173 f-yvhich arey governed in their relative moveyment by -fa `pin and .slot connection. For @exam-ple, y 1in Y -F ig. 6 such connection vis shown .bathe nina-1,14 and cooperating slot 15. ,To netainfthetsectonsin openipostonr'however, Igmayeniploy .a spring ipressed :latch Clisposed within each ofthe sections-and adapt- ...ged t0 cprctrude or i extend therethrough :and .f;s..formcd-as.to engage theend .of the adnt tion,toprevent :collapsing ofstlle staff ...until-the :latch is -manua1i1yaemored- Serial No. $20,705.

`the staff, l provide a ring20 which carries suitable springs 23 and 24, oneiend of which is permanently attached as at 25 and p26 respectively to the ring 20, and the ,other endsof which carry pins 21 and 22 which extendthrough openings in the ring. These pins as shown in lFig. 7 yare adapted ,toen

gage corresponding openings in the :section 10. The ring 20 is provided with a laterally extending flange portion 30, on which .are pivotally mounted the `ribs v31, 32, L33, etc. The fabric or covering 40, is disposed above the rflange portion 30 and is protected by ;a suitable nut 41 as shown in Fig..2.

Referring now to Fig. 3, each ofthetelescoping ribs is shown as embodying .a vrmain or-inner section 50, an intermediate section 51, and an outersection 52. The intermediate section carries abracket or slide 5 ,3Uat one end thereof, and a corresponding bracket 54 at the other end .thereof as shown y in Figs. 3 to 5. Each bracket embodies a channel-like member, having one portion as at which extends over ythe intermediate section 51 and is rigidly attached thereto. The other end, as at 61, extends overand vembraces,theadjacent gsection and is heldin kfrictional engagement therewith by a Spring 62 as shown in Fig. 5. Eachspringf-l62 is preferably bent intermediately, and .curved at one end, as at 63, to form a recess forengaging a shoulder 64, to kretain theribs in open position. The shoulder which engages .the spring maybe formedby -indenti/ngthe inner section and outer section near the ends which are. adjacent the intermediate `section. A suitable lopening 65 in each bracket k,is adapted to receivethe intermediate portion of the spring for .retaining itin operative position.

The `ribs arepositioned in the yusual inan- .ner by supporting stays 5?'0, rZ'Lfetc. theouter ends of whiclrare attached to the., endofthe inner rib sections and the inner ends .of

which are pivotally mounted -upon airnnner 80. This runneris.adaptedtoestond;V ong the section -10 and includes an extension member 81, Ahaving apairof.opjpositely disposed openings 82 and ,83 .througlL-which yable members V86 and '.8-7, respectively, are

l fl 0 CTI rigidly attached at the ends opposite the pins to the runner just below the ring 79. When 'the umbrella is in extended position, the pins 84 and 85 are adapted to extend into openings 88 and 89 respectively within the section 10.

The upward movement of the runner then is limited by engagement of the ring 79 with .the ring 20, while the downward movement vthereof is limited by engagement of the pins 84 and 85 with the openings 88 and 89 in section 10.

To facilitate the removal of the pins which hold the runner in position upon the section 10, T provide a member which embodies a ring loosely mounted upon the runner, and positioned thereon intermediate the ends of the springs 86 and 87 and they free end 91 of the runner. This ring comprises a band 92, the upper end of which is beveled as at 93, and is adapted to extend beneath the free ends of the springs when the ring is forced upwardly. This permits both pins to be disengaged at the same time.

The ring, however, serves an additional purpose, namely, that of holding` the pins in proper position or engagement with the section. For example. the ring is provided with a pair of ears 94:, as shown in Fig. 6 which extend upwardly beyond the beveled surface 93 and are adapted to engage the outer surface of the springs 86 and 87. Suiiicient tension is provided by the springs for retaining the pins in engagement with the section.

As shown in Fig. 2, the staff is preferably prov-ided with a cup-shaped memberl 100, which extends over the handle end of the staff and is secured thereto by a bayonet lock. This cup-shapedy member extends sufficiently beyond the periphery of the staff to `provide space into which the ends of the ribs may be placed when the umbrella is closed.

On the opposite end of the staff I provide an extensible. section 110 which is also telescopic and is adapted to cooperate with the section l0. To prevent inward motion of the section when the staff is extended. T may employ the latch 16, which is adapted to en gage the outer end of the section l0, and to prevent outward motion l may employ shoulder lll adjacent thc inner end of the section 110, which shoulder is preferably annular, and is adapted to engage a corresponding shoulder adjacent the outer end of the section l0. The shoulder on the section 10, may be' provided by a bead 112 adjacent the outer end of the section l0.

Assuming that an umbrella, embodying my invention is in open position as shown in Fig. l, then to close the umbrella the ring or runner 92 is turned so as to free the ears 98 and 94: from the springs, and is then forced upwardly, whereby the tapered or beveled surface 93 is brought beneath the ends of the springs. Continued upward motion forces the pins 84 and 85 away from the notches within the section. As soon as the pins are released from the notches, the runner is moved along the section 10 until the ring 79 is brought into engagement with the ring 20. Then the ribs are collapsed in the usual manner and subsequently the post is collapsed, also in the usual manner. Thereupon the free ends of the ribs are placed within the cup-shaped member 100, and the fabric or covering is wound or placed on one side of the staff andis then, fastened by the usual retaining tape. `When the umbrella is folded, it assumes a form as shown in Fig. 8.

To open the umbrella, the reverse ,proce dure is followed, that is, the stati1y is exi tended, the ribs are partially extended and then the runner is moved along the section until it is p-ositionedfby the cooperating pin and slot connection. Thereupon, the ring 90 is turned to bring the ears 93 and 94- over the ends of the springs and thus to reta-in the ruimer in place. The ribs are thus entirely extended and are held in position by the engagement of the springs 62 with the shoulders.

ln view of the foregoing description, it

will be seen that my invention provides a collapsible umbrella which may be quickly folded or extended, and which when closed occupies greatly reduced space over present forms of collapsible umbrellas. It will fur ther be seen that thevarious cooperatingl parts which T employ are quite simple in construction and are adapted for convenience in assembling, as well as in opera-tion and durability in use. A further advantage of my invention is the fact that an umbrella having three sections of ribs may be readily employed, wherefore the usual standard size when opened may be obtained, while a compact package is provided when the umbrella is closed.

I claim:

l. An umbrella having in combination a Shaft, ribs carried thereby, a runner movable on the shaft, stays connected at one end to the runner and at the other end to the ribs, a member carried by the runnerv and cooperating with the shaft to position the run ner thereon, and a rotatable lockingringv embracing the runner and having a beveled edge thereon, said edge cooperating with said member to unlock the runner from the shaft, the locking actionv being accomplished by rotation of the member and the unlocking action by movement of said mem- I i ber longitudinally of the shaft.

2. An umbrella having in combination a staff, ribs carried thereby, stays associated with the ribs, a runner movable on the staf:` and operatively connected to the stays, said l ii ii runner loosely embracing the staii:` and having openings therein, said stad also having openings in registration with those on the ruimer, iexible members associated with the runner and having portions thereof adapted to enter the openings in the runner and staff, and a looking ring having parts thereof eX- tending over said members for retaining them in proper position, relatively to said openings, said ring having a portion thereof adapted to engage beneath said members upon longitudinal movement of the. ring for unlocking the runner from the shaft.

3. An umbrella having in combination a staff, ribs and stays, a runner connected to the stays, said runner having openings therein, a pair of oppositely disposed yieldable members carried by the runner and adapted to enter the openings, and a locking ring adapted upon longitudinal movement thereof to engage beneath said members for moving them relatively to the ruimer, whereby the runner may be unlocked from the shaft.

et. An umbrella having in combination, a staff comprising a plurality of sections, a runner movable on one of said sections, said section having a pair of oppositely disposed openings therein and said runner also having a pair of oppositely disposed openings therein adapted to register with those in the staff, a pair of oppositely disposed yieldable members having one Aend rigidly attached to the runner and having the other end shaped to extend through said openings in the runner and staff respectively, and a ring loosely embracing the runner and movable longitudinally thereof, said ring having a portion thereof adapted to embrace the members for retaining them in locked position and having a portion adapted to extend beneath said members for moving them relatively to the runner upon longitudinal movement of the ring to unlock the ruimer from the shaft.

5. An umbrella having in combination, a staff, a runner movable along the staff, a locking member associated with the runner and adapted to engage the staff, and a ring rotatably mounted on the runner and movable axially thereof, said ring having a pair of ears protruding therefrom, said ears being adapted to extend over the members to lock them in position upon rotation of the ring, and said ring having oppositely disposed beveled surfaces intermediate the ears whereby the members may be unlocked by axial movement of the ring when the beveled surfaces are brought into engagement with said members.

G. An umbrella having in combination, a staff, a plurality of ribs carried thereby, each comprising an inner section, an outer section, and an intermediate section, the intermediate section having a slide attached thereto at each end thereof, the slide at one end eX- tending laterally on one side, and the slide at the other extending laterally from the other side, each of said slides being adapted to engage the adjacent rib sections and a spring carried by each slide for engaging the adjacent rib sections and for retaining the ribs in adjusted position.

7. An umbrella having in combination, a staff, ribs carried thereby, each comprising a main or inner section, an outer section, and an intermediate section, slides coacting with the intermediate sections adjacent to the ends thereof, each slide being adapted to extend around the end of the adjacent rib section, and each slide having a spring carried thereby, each of said springs having a recess at one end thereof, and each of the adjacent rib sections having a shoulder adapted to cooperate with the recesses, whereby the ribs are retained in adjusted position when the umbrella is opened.

8. An umbrella. having in combination, a stati', ribs carried thereby, means for attaching the ribs to the sta, said means comprising a ring having a flange extending axially of the staff and having openings therein, a yieldable member carried by the ring and adapted to enter one of said openings and to cooperate with the staff for locking the ring in position, a covering upon the ribs and in engagement with the ring adjacent one end of said flange portion, and a closure member adapted to extend over the flange portion and to engage the covering for retaining it in position.

9. In an umbrella the combination with a staff, of a runner mounted on the staff, a member associated with the runner and cooperating with the staff, and a second member carried by the runner and cooperating with the first mentioned member, whereby movement of the second member longitudinally of the staff unlocks the runner from the staff and whereby rotation of the second member locks the runner to the shaft.

in testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

JOHN V. HNANICEK. 

